Designing School Choice: The Devil's in the Details

Abstract

This essay reviews School Choice Policies and Outcomes by Walter Feinberg and Christopher Lubienski. The book is a compilation of ten articles examining school choice policies in an international context. Using philosophical arguments and empirical data, the authors provide varying perceptions of the effectiveness and rationale for school choice policies. We begin this review with an argument that suggests that there is no one thing that defines choice and that as a consequence choice is a difficult concept about which to generalise. We prefer an approach that emphasises particular plans, policies, practices, and perspectives. We illustrate this approach by taking note of New Roots, a new charter school in Ithaca, New York.